5 October 2015
UCC Shooting victims named…
Police in Roseburg released the names Saturday of the nine people killed by a gunman on the campus of Umpqua Community College. They were: 19-year old Lucero Alcaraz of Roseburg; Kim Saltmarsh Dietz, also of Roseburg was 59. Another Roseburg resident was Lucas Eibel. He was 18.
67-year old Lawrence Levine of Glide was the teacher in the classroom; 33-year old Jason Dale Johnson of Winston was a student. As was 44-year old Sarena Dawn Moore of Myrtle Creek. Rebecka Ann Carnes, also of Myrtle Creek was just 18. Sutherlin resident Treven Taylor Anspach was 20.
18-year old Quinn Glen Cooper was from Roseburg.
His family released a statement saying in part – quote – “Please don’t let this horrible act of insanity become about who should or shouldn’t have a gun. Please remember the victims and their families.
The shooter killed himself during a gun battle with responding police.
Coos County Schools respond to vague threat
Police in Coos County received and investigated what they fourth hand information Friday that related to unspecified threats against schools in that area.
Schools in Coquille closed by midmorning, not wishing to take any chances. Other schools in Coos County reviewed the information and continued through the day. The Coos County Sheriff’s office completed an initial investigation and determined there to be no credible threat.
City council expected to accept parks grant
The Florence City Council is scheduled this evening to select an architect for the beginning phases of a new public works headquarters; begin planning for a Highway 101 makeover in the core downtown area; and talk about the next step in completion of a trail along the edge of the Siuslaw River Estuary.
Florence City Manager Erin Reynolds says they will also consider accepting $24-thousand grant from Oregon State Parks for an upgrade to an existing neighborhood park.
Erin Reynolds – “It’s a park that needs a little bit of attention, it could use some new equipment.”
That’s Pepperoaks Park, just south of 35th street west of Highway 101.
Erin Reynolds – “We’ve already done quite a bit of landscaping and sprucing up what we can on our own and we’re excited to begin putting the finishing touches on that.”
The council will meet this evening at six pm at City Hall.
Highway 101 North of Florence restricted to one lane
Restoration of an iconic rock wall along Highway 101 north of Florence is expected to get underway this week. The highway, just north of Sea Lion Caves, will be limited to one-lane of traffic, regulated by flaggers 24-hours a day until the project is completed next spring.
The original wall was built in 1931. Over time, it has lost its structural integrity. Rick Little with the Oregon Department of Transportation says the project will restore that integrity and aesthetic appearance, as well as increase the height.
Little says the Sea Lion Point Rock Wall is a good example of a rock feature constructed by the Works Progress Administration along the Oregon Coast during the depression. Another restoration will be included in the project, the replacement of a bridge rail on a half-viaduct near Cape Perpetua.
Regional Arts Alliance hosting poetry slam
The spoken word will be celebrated Friday night in Florence during the quarterly Poetry Fest at the Florence Regional Arts Alliance Center in Old Town.
Four members of the Chicago hip-hop poetry group Break-Beat Poets will be in Florence to perform. They’ll offer a special performance workshop at the center beginning at four Friday afternoon. Then, says Karen Brown, they’ll perform on stage that evening beginning at six. She also said a five-dollar fee covers both the workshop and the performance. But, there are also 20-free tickets for local middle and high school students on a first come-first served basis.
Qualifications and pay set for new Port Manager
The person that will succeed the current Port of Siuslaw Manager will be paid roughly the same, and have the same job description.
That’s the determination of the Port of Siuslaw Commission, which met last week to lay out the expected qualifications for the new manager.
Bob Forsythe has held the position since March 2012. He announced two weeks ago he would be leaving just before the end of this year.
The new manager will receive an annual salary in the range of 50-to-70-thousand-dollars; dependent on experience. He or she will also receive a complete benefit package.
The application deadline for the position is at the close of business on October 30th.
